Randfontein High School (RHS) pupil Cantona James, 17 recently achieved great success at the National Eisteddfod Academy (NEA) for Drama.
He won the category Speech and Drama, FET phase10 open semi final, announced the winner in the Drama category and won a bursary for the seven week course with Brumilda van Rensburg. At Kyknet he also made the finals, and won a much sought after role in the stage production of Fiela se Kind that will be produced in Cape Town.
Cantona’s success in drama stems from a family tragedy, where he felt he had to tell his tragic story so many times, that he eventually wrote a piece on the events of that tragic day and performed it to fellow pupils and other audiences. A teacher at RHS then saw his talent and asked him to join his drama class.
When asked who inspires him, he said Taylor Perry and Will Smith. His dream is to one day have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, and he is not just interested in acting, but also in writing and directing.
Cantona wisely plans on studying Law, alongside Drama, to make sure he has a career to fall back on in an industry where you are not always guaranteed of work. He also has his feet firmly on the ground, saying his acting is not about fame and fortune, but his love and passion for drama.
In Randfontein High School (RHS) they did a production called The League of Extraordinary Boys, where he played the leading role and then also won the best actor in that production.
Cantona’s ambition and confidence is immediately noted when you are in his presence. That and all the qualities required is a star in the making.
